Grades Are In: Orinda Gets Mostly "B's" and "D's"

This summer we’ve asked Lamorinda Patchers to grade their beloved community one city at a time. First up was, then , and finally, Orinda.

And while they often say “save the best for last,” aren’t all positive. Many comments posted on the story were optimistic, but the results of the poll tell a different story.

While 37 percent of voters gave Orinda a “B,” 34 percent also gave Orinda a “D,” for “Slipping. Has some serious problems.”

Some seem concerned about the quality of city government, and commenter Chris Kniel said he was concerned that creative, out-of-the-box ideas are limited when it comes to the city council.

“My concerns are that the city government does not bend or adjust to reflect the will of the people. They go through the motions but they don’t seem to connect the dots. For example, citizen input at City Council Meetings is rarely followed up,” Kniel wrote.

Others were concerned about the conditions of the roads, which has been a The Orinda city council recently voted to place a half-cent sales tax measure on the November ballot, which -- if passed -- would help fund road repairs.

The people of Orinda also expressed their concern about the control that the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) seems to have over the city of Orinda.

While Orindans did speak out about perceived negatives, people also had plenty of good things to say about their city. Six percent of voters gave Orinda an “A,” citing the city as a good place to raise a family with a fun downtown area.

Bruce Carroll, who gave Orinda an “A,” said it was a good size and friendly town. He said he enjoyed downtown for the theater and the shops.

Others agreed, and emphasized the family-oriented aspect of the city of Orinda. 

“This city is committed to preserving a way if life that respects people as they age and values the family unit,” wrote Patch commenter LaRay Spencer. “Orinda works to be a progressive, healthy and environmentally sound community while respecting people's boundaries. It loves its children and teens and teaches them service as a way if life.”

Does Orinda deserve all those "D's"? Or is it more of an "A" city? What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.